Barely grown in the 1990s, kiwifruit has since carried Turkey into the world's top 10 producers, with output now surpassing 100,000 tonnes.
Kiwifruit was barely grown in Turkey in the 1990s. Today, it is behind one of the country's most striking agricultural growth stories — a fruit once considered exotic is now a real part of Turkey's fresh produce portfolio.
A roughly 64-fold increase in production over 23 years
Per TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data, kiwifruit production grew from around 1,400 tonnes in 2000 to 89,831 tonnes in 2023 — a roughly 64-fold increase; Turkey's harvest reached about 100,000 tonnes in 2022 and again in 2024 (TÜİK), placing it among the world's top 10 kiwifruit producers, before frost cut the 2025 crop to roughly 71,000 tonnes. That is a rare case of a production base starting from almost nothing and reaching a meaningful global position within two decades.
A new agricultural identity for the Black Sea
Kiwifruit production in Turkey is concentrated mainly in two regions: Marmara (particularly Yalova) and the Eastern Black Sea. Rize alone produces roughly 5,000 tonnes of kiwifruit a year — about a twentieth of national production — with Ordu, Samsun, Trabzon, and Giresun also contributing.
That means a region historically associated with hazelnut and tea has added a new, internationally traded crop to its agricultural identity — both a diversification and an additional income source for the regional economy.
An even sharper jump in exports
Export growth has kept pace: kiwifruit export value stood at roughly $200,000 in 2015-2016 and reached about $9 million in 2024 and $7.3 million in 2025 (Trade Map data). That growth shows the added production capacity has not just been absorbed domestically — it has been channeled overwhelmingly into exports.
As we have covered in our 2026 industry overview, export capacity across Turkey's fresh produce sector is expanding far faster than production nationwide; kiwifruit is the most extreme single example of that trend, simply because its starting point — near-zero production in the 1990s — was lower than for any other crop.
Turkey's place in global production
World kiwifruit production reached roughly 4.43 million tonnes in 2024, with China accounting for the great bulk of it on its own as the clear leader. New Zealand brought in its largest-ever harvest in 2025 at 770,000 tonnes, while Italy, Greece, and Iran round out the other major producers, each with well-established export traditions.
| Country | Annual Production |
|---|---|
| China (2024) | ~2.2 million tonnes |
| New Zealand (2025) | 770,000 tonnes |
| Italy (2025) | ~523,000 tonnes |
| Greece (2025) | ~320,000 tonnes |
| Iran (2025) | ~295,000 tonnes |
| Turkey (2024) | ~100,000 tonnes (top 10) |
According to the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), while Turkey does not yet rank among the top producers by total volume, it is the world leader in kiwifruit production growth rate. That distinction matters: Turkey's story is not about overtaking an existing giant — it is about starting from near zero and becoming the fastest-growing producer in the world.
Why the growth happened so fast
Kiwifruit needs cool winters and mild summers, conditions well suited to the Black Sea coastal belt and parts of the Marmara region. Growers in these areas invested in orchard establishment, and that investment laid the groundwork for production capacity to compound over two decades.
The result is concrete evidence that Turkish agriculture can adapt quickly even to a relatively new crop — and proof that an export line with no centuries-old tradition behind it, unlike citrus or stone fruit, can still become globally significant in a short span.
Visit our kiwifruit product page for variety and harvest details, and check our Seasonal Calendar for current supply status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Turkey's kiwifruit production grown in recent years?
Per TÜİK data, kiwifruit production grew roughly 64-fold between 2000 and 2023; Turkey's harvest reached about 100,000 tonnes in 2022 and 2024 (TÜİK), about 71,000 tonnes in 2025 after frost, and the country ranks among the world's top 10 kiwifruit producers.
Did kiwifruit exports grow faster than production?
Yes — kiwifruit export value grew from roughly $200,000 in 2015-2016 to about $9 million in 2024 and $7.3 million in 2025 (Trade Map data), showing that the added production capacity has been channeled overwhelmingly into exports.
Where does kiwifruit mainly grow in Turkey?
Production is concentrated mainly in Marmara (particularly Yalova) and the Eastern Black Sea. Rize alone produces roughly 5,000 tonnes a year, about a twentieth of national production, with Ordu, Samsun, Trabzon, and Giresun also contributing.
Which country produces the most kiwifruit in the world?
China is the clear world leader, accounting for the great bulk of global kiwifruit production — around 2.2 million tonnes in 2024 — on its own; New Zealand and Italy are other major producers, both with long-established export traditions.
Is Turkey the world leader in kiwifruit production growth?
Yes — according to the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), while Turkey does not yet rank among the top producers by total volume, it led the world in kiwifruit production growth over 2000-2011.
